Truss.



Patented Aug. I, I899.

' W. L. FICK.

TRUSS.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1899.)

{No Model.)

fmiafor. mzferzml oroumo wAsMmoYoN o c UNTTTD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVALTER L. FIOK, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,206, dated August 1, 1899; I Application filed March 23, 1899. Serial No. 710,219. (No model.)

To ztZZ whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER L. Flex, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a specificatioil.

This invention relates to trusses, and has for its object to provide an improved construction of hernia-truss adapted for convenient and effective support of a hernia on either side of the body and which can be readily adjusted, so as to exert any required degree of pressure, at the same time permitting movements of the body without liability of displacing the truss and with no discomfort, chafing, or irritation to the wearer.

My improved truss comprises a yoke-shaped spring-frame having a coil formed therein intermediate the screw-threaded ends of a rubber-covered steel wire, from which said frame is formed, an egg-shaped front pad having its point end screw-tapped in a direction deflected from the axial line of said pad and thereby adj ustably engaged with a screwthreaded end of the spring-frame in such manner that by imparting a half-turn, more or less, to said pad its continuously-rounded bearing-surface will be made to exert a varying pressure on the hernia to properlysupport the same; also, a disk-shaped back pad that has its periphery screw tapped to engage the other screw-threaded end of the spring-frame and adjust itself thereon to the movements of the body, and suitable straps connected with the arms of the spring-frame adjacent to said pads for the purpose of securing the truss in place.

In the annexed drawings,illustrating the in vention, Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved truss. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with the front pad in part section, also showing in section a portion of the rubber covering on the spring-frame.

The'frame of the truss consists of a piece of steel wire 1 of the best quality and properly tempered. This wire is provided with a covering 2, preferably of soft-rubber tubing, and is formed with a coil 3 intermediate its ends, said coil being so located that the front arm of the wire frame will be somewhat -longer than the rear arm. Both ends of the wire 1 are screw-threaded, as shown.

To the longer arm of the wire frame there is attached an egg-shapedfront pad 4, that be desired. It may be preferable to insert an externally and internally threaded metal bushing 5 into the point end of the egg-shaped front pad 4: to obviate wear in making adjustments of the pad on its wire support. A jamnut 6 may be placed on the wire 1 in such position that it may be turned orscrewed down against the pad at to lock it in adjusted position.

On the rear arm of the wire frame there is a back pad 7, which is disk-shaped and provided With a slightly-convexed face for contact with the body of the wearer at a point on the back of the hip. This disk-shaped pad "7 has its periphery screw-tapped in a radial direction for attachment to the screw-threaded end of the wire frame, the pad being engaged on said Wire with sufficient looseness to turn readily back and forth and so adjust itself to the movements of the body, as in walking, and so as not to cause any discomfort. This disk-shaped back pad '7 may be made of hard woodor other material and may have any suitable covering, if desired.

The arms of the wire frame have suitable straps 8 and 9 attached thereto adjacent to the pads for the purpose of securing the truss in place. These straps may be made of cotton webbing or other suitable material of sufficient width and thickness to lay smoothly around the body without wrinkling or curling at the edges, which would be liable to cause irritation of the skin. A buckle 10 or other appropriate fastening is provided for securing the straps when passed -around the body.

When the truss is in position, the coil 3 ICO with greater force against the hernia.

comes against the side of the wearer above the hip, and it will be understood thatthis coil imparts such resiliency to the spring-wire frame that the double pressure of the pads 4 and 7 is readily and constantly maintained in all positions of the body. The rubber covering 2 on the wire 1 protects the wire from rust by contact with perspiration and also by its softness prevents any irritation of the skin. The two arms or members of the spring, which extend from the coil, may be slightly bent or pressed in opposite directions, so that normally the greater portions of the arms or members below the coil lie substantially in the same plane directly opposite each other, so that while the inner portion only of the coil may lie in contact with the body the greater portions of the arms or members may be in contact, with the body and obtain a comfortable fit. Furthermore, as the entire spring is susceptible of being bent the coil itself can be properly bent to fit the body, and hence practically the entire spring or approximately the entire spring will rest against the body.

This truss is very durable, easy to wear, and retains its shape under varying conditions of use and in such manner as to hold the rupture in the most natural position.

The truss can be adjusted in difierent ways to press the rupture more firmlyfirst, by pressing the arms of the spring-frame to gether at the coil or pressing the pads 4 and 7 toward each other; second, by drawing the straps 8 and 9 more tightly around the body, and, third, by turning the eccentrically-placed egg-shapedpad4 one-halt around, so as to bear The pressure may be decreased by turning the pad 4 one-half around in a reverse direction,

or by relaxing the strapsaround the body, or by pulling the pads 4 and 7 apart; The truss is easy and comfortable, wears cleaner and with less tendency to odor, andis readily kept in order. If desired, the pads may be medicated with any suitable preparation to prevent soreness or chafing when the skin is very sensitive.

If desired, the jam-nut 6 and any other exposed metal parts may be nickel-plated.

This truss can be worn day and night without any annoyance. It is very comfortable when lying down. The steadier it is worn or the more pressure there is on the hernia the sooner will a cure be effected.

What I claim as my invention is.-

1. A truss, consisting of a yoke shaped spring having screw-threaded ends, an eggshaped pad smooth-s11 rfaced through out,from

point to base, a screw-socket extending in the pad oblique to, or deflected from, the longitudinal axis thereof and engaged with one end of the spring, and a disk-shaped pad having its periphery constructed with a screwsocket extending into the body of said pad and engaged with the other end of said spring,

substantially as described.

structed with a screw-socket extending into the body of said pad and engaged with the other end of said spring, substantially as described.

3. A truss consisting of a yoke shaped spring-wire having a covering of rubber tubing and provided with screw-threaded ends and a spring-coil in said spring-wire centrally between its screw-threaded ends which acts to force said ends toward each other, an eggshaped front pad having a screw-socket extending therein oblique to, or deflected from, the longitudinal axis of said pad and engaged with one end of the spring-wire and whereby said pad is adjustable by turning it one-half around to increase or diminish the pressure, a disk-shaped back pad on the other end of said spring-wire, and straps attached to said spring-wire, substantially as described.

4. A truss consisting ofv a yoke-shaped spring-Wire frame having a coil therein and provided with screw-threaded ends, an eg shaped front pad having in its point end a bushing-screw tapped in a direction deflected from the axial line of said pad to engage a screw-threaded end of the spring-frame and whereby said pad is adjustable byturning it "one-half around to increase or diminish the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- I l'lGSSGS.

WALTER L. FIOK.

Witnesses:

WALTER HEIDBREDER,

J. H. SIECKMANN. 

